Bed Bug Spray To Blame For Apartment Fire

COLERAIN, OH - A fire that engulfed an apartment in Colerain on
Friday night was partially caused by the use of a common bedbug
deterrent, fire officials said.

Colerain firefighters said they received a call at about 9:30 p.m.
reporting a fire on a second floor apartment in the 3500 block of
West Galbraith Road.

Firefighters said they brought the fire under control at about 9:50
p.m. with the help of fire crews from Springfield Township and
Green Township fire departments.

Authorities said a family of six, including four children, was
displaced and receiving assistance from the Red Cross.

Fire officials said the residents of the apartment were using
isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle to kill bedbugs. Officials said
the home-remedy is common, but droplets formed by spraying the
chemical dramatically increases the evaporation rate of the
alcohol.

The vapor released is extremely flammable and was ignited by a
cigarette, firefighters said.

No injuries were reported, firefighters said. The fire caused an
estimated $30,000 in damage to the building and its contents.